Cotton chopper



June 15 192s. 1,588,944

J. COLTHARP COTTON SHOPPER Filed Sept- 1. 1923 James ZIM/D.

@Manny Patented .lune 15, 1926.

lUniren erste JAMES COLTHARP, F BLUE MOUNTAIN, MISSISSIPPI.

corren onorrnn.

Application filed September This invention relates to in'iprovements in agricultural implements and especially to improvements in cotton choppers which are' Vused for thinning out rows of young` cotton.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved cotton chopper which will be driven from the machine or apparatus upon which it is mounted and which will be so mounted that it will be vertically adjustable with respect to the `ground.

Another object of the invention is to profv vide an improved cotton chopper which will be provided with a pair of laterally reciprocating blades and roller means for guiding' the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cotton chopper which will be provided with a pair of resiliently mounted transversely reciprocatingl blades, the same being;` vertically adjustable with respect to the `ground.

A. still further object of the invention to provide an improved cotton chopper' which will be highly efficient in use and quite inexpensive to manufacture. y

@ther objects will appear' as the description proceeds.

ln the accompanying` drawings which form a part of my application,

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of my improved cotton chopper.

Fig'. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig'. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 2-3-*3 Vof 1, and

Figi'. ii is a detailed end view of one of the chopping' knives showing the resilient mounting'l therefor.

Like characters of reference are used .throughout the following' si'iecitication and laccompanying` drawings to designate corresponding' parts.

. rl`he stationary framelhas mounted transversely across it the axle 2 which in turn supports at its opposite ends the wheels 3. A vertically adjustable slidable frame In preferably yoke shaped, is mounted upon the frame 1 and has attached to its lower portion the elevating chains 5 which are secured at their opposite ends to the lever tl fixed to the shaft 7. An operating' lever 8 is fixed to the shaft 7 and is provided with suitable means for cooperating with the segl ment 9 carried on the frame 1, so that when 1, i923. serial no. e'cissli.

the said lever S is moved in onedirection the flrameel will be` elevated and when i i i. moved in the opposite direction the said' frame 4L will be lowered.

The L,'ear wheel 10 is fixed on the axle between one of the wheels 3 and the end of the frame l and is adapted to intermesh with the smaller gear wheel 11 at one end of the shaft 12. rlhe shaft 12 is rotatably mounted through the frame 1 and carries 0n its inner end a bevel gear 13 which is adapted to intermesh with a smaller bevel gear 14 slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the vertically mounted shaft 15. The shaft 15 is `iou'rnaled on a bracket on frame l and slidable therethrough. the gear lel being' engaged between the bracket and gear 13 as illustrated. A. crank 16 is fined to the lower end of the shaft 15 and is connected with one end of the connecting link 17. The opposite end of the link 17 is detachably connected to one end of the sliding` member 18 which is slidably mounted in the guide member 19, the same being suitably held in the frame 1 by means of the brackets 20. A downwardly extending' pin or lue,` 21 is carried bythe slide member 18 and slides in a slot in the lower surface of the guide member 19.

Dependingl from the adjustable frame and supported thereon by brackets 23 is an arcuate frame comprising` spaced concentric track members 22.

A suitable tongue is attached to the frame 1, as is also a seat for the operator of the said apparatus.

From the foregoing` description it will be apparent that when the cotton chopper is drawn down the rows of cotton that the plates '26 will be reciprocated transversely across the rows and with a drawing' action to cut out some of the plants, thereby thinning' out the same. The d 'awing' or slicing operation of the blades will be caused by the movement of the blade support in the concent'ic spaced arcuate tracks. It will fui'- tlier be seen that the power for operating the cutter plates will all be furnished through the connections with the apparatus so thatl when the apparatus is moved the cutter plates will be operated.

As before mentioned the frame Ll may be vertically adjusted by means of the opei'at ing' lever 8 so that the plates 26 may cut in the desired manner.

CIK

Many minor Changes in detail of construction may be resorted to Without departure 'from the spirit oit the inventien.

Having` tlius described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure bYV Letters Patent ot the United States is:

A cotton chopper comprising an axle, `ground contacting' wheels tixedty secured to the ends of the axle, vertical guide members journalled on the axle one adjacent eaeli end, means for spacing' said guide men'ibers, yoke members slidable one on eaeli ot sai guide members, means connecting said yoke members, means for raising` and lowering said yoke members in unison, arcuate Concentric track n'ieinbers supported by said yoke members, a roller shaft positioned radially between said track nienibers, blades resilient-ly secured in oblique relation to the ground, upon the roller sbat't, and means operated by rotation oit the axle and eile ftive in any adjusted position of the yoke n'ieinbers for reciprocatingv tbe roller slia'ft on said arcuate tracks substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aliix niy signature.

JAMES COLTHARP. 

